Apparition Read Online Free PDF Page A

her tend to personal business, some things were just too private. This
time, though, she was safe from the being’s grasp—there was no way it could get
her this near to Caveat and the herd who were almost within touching distance.
When Zoe finished, she washed again.
    Moving a small ways upstream she cupped her hands into
the flowing river and drank in a huge amount. Zoe was starving but food would
have to wait; the water would have to suffice for now. She filled her belly
with the cool clear liquid. Her arms crossed her breasts when she finished. Zoe
wished she had clothes or a towel. It was cold at night, not too cold but
enough to raise goose bumps. She was still so tired and wanted to curl up onto
Caveat’s warmth. Turning, she saw a blur and before she could scream a hand
went over her mouth. Like an apparition with lightning speed, Zoe was up high
in a tree moving at a rate so fast her head spun. She didn’t know this speed
was possible.
    Oh God, not
again .
    The creature wasn’t pinning her arms or legs
painfully. Its massively muscled gray-white arm was snaked up her belly to her
mouth, effectively holding her and silencing her. His strength was physically
powerful but controlled. Zoe had no choice but to hang on while her legs
dangled until she pulled them under her. She squeezed her eyes shut for a brief
second then opened them. Caveat stood unmoving not far from them. All the
horses were settled quietly. Her poor friend must be exhausted. Zoe released
her captor to reach for Caveat, only a small whimpered puff of air was expelled.
She sobbed in her fear. He would never hear her this high up, or as tired as he
was. Desolation filled her heart.
    “You’ll see him again soon,” a voice whispered.
    Zoe’s despair was heavy. She doubted it. This time she
was dead for certain. The creature took off with her until the herd was nothing
more than a dot—then nothing at all. She was alone again with a creature. Her
only hope was that he possessed a soul, a kindness, mercy. On this planet it
was doubtful. Her body slumped in defeat; she was too tired and sad to fight
any more. The idea alone was heartbreaking.

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
    Chapter 2

 
    Zoe sat curled in a ball on a bed piled high with soft
sheets. The creature had only set her on it after she had given him her name.
She was in a cave. Her large captor was pacing back and forth in front of her
erratically. Every so often he would pause to say something to her then stop
and begin pacing again. During that time Zoe would glance about looking for an
escape route. The two of them were alone. It was a frightening thought.
    The cave was deep. The interior was bathed in light.
The inside rock was like nothing she had ever seen before. It wasn’t hard rock
but sponge-like. She assumed the terrain was adaptable to the large creatures
living on the planet. The being in front of her, Doss, he said his name was,
was massive. Standing at least six foot six and covered in armor that molded to
each of his muscles. He had a tattoo like the Tonans and Castians , but the Tonans ’
was black, the Castians ’ green. Doss’ was like a
strike of white lightning. It glowed. There were protruding bulbs where its
eyes would sit. His clawed feet were huge, shaped like a velociraptor with an extra claw at the back. His fangs were long and a gleaming white. Long
talons hung from his hands like knives. Zoe noted warily the one razor sharp
looking claw hook that had sliced the Tonan open and
she shuddered.
    Doss stopped again and moved closer. Zoe couldn’t help
it, she had sworn to be strong but she was starving, weak from lack of sleep,
and terrified. She cowered back into the bed and Doss stopped advancing and
started pacing. Again Zoe looked around while he seemed distracted. The walls
of the cave were a pleasant rose quartz. Green vines curled up the sides with
stunning white flowers Zoe knew to be called Effie flowers. A sparkling pool of
water glowed with a